IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, Chapter 473
and
An Application for Participant Assistance/Cost Award
Regarding the Pacific Northern Gas Ltd.
2012 Resource Plan for the PNG(N.E.) Pipeline Systems
BEFORE: D.A. Cote, Panel Chair/Commissioner
C.A. Brown, Commissioner May 1, 2013
C. van Wermeskerken, Commissioner
O R D E R
WHEREAS:
A. On October 1, 2012, the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) received Pacific Northern Gas Ltd. (PNG)’s 2012 Resource Plan for the PNG(N.E.) Fort St. John, Dawson Creek and Tumbler Ridge distribution pipeline systems. On October 16, 2012, PNG(N.E.) filed a revised Resource Plan (2012 Resource Plan) after it determined that the original filing with the Commission contained prospective customer information that was subject to confidentiality;
B. By Order G-147-12, dated October 16, 2012, the Commission established a Written Hearing Process and a Regulatory Timetable with one round of Information Requests (IRs) to review the 2012 Resource Plan;
C. On November 2, 2012, in accordance with the Initial Regulatory Timetable established by Order G-147-12, the Commission and the British Columbia Pensioners and Seniors’ Organization (BCPSO), the only intervener to register in this proceeding, submitted IR No. 1 to PNG;
D. On December 5, 2012, PNG(N.E.) submitted its responses to IR No. 1 from the Commission and BCPSO;
E. On February 8, 2013, PNG(N.E.) filed its Final Submission according to the Regulatory Timetable amended by Order G-16-13, dated February 1, 2013;
F. On February 18, 2013, BCPSO submitted its Final Submission, to which PNG(N.E.) replied on February 26, 2013;
G. On March 14, 2013, the British Columbia Public Interest Advocacy Centre filed an application for Participant Assistance/Cost Award (PACA) on behalf of its client, the BCPSO, in the amount of $4,886.00;
H. By Order G-60-13, dated April 18, 2013, the Commission accepted PNG’s Resource Plan pursuant to section 44.1(6) of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA) with the exception of the Demand Side Management part of the 2012 Resource Plan. Pursuant to section 44.1(7) of the UCA, the Commission directed PNG(N.E.) to resubmit the DSM part of the 2012 Resource Plan no later than December 8, 2013 and to include an updated load forecast;
I. By email dated March 14, 2013, PNG advised the Commission that it had reviewed the BCPSO PACA application and considered it to be reasonable; and
J. The Commission has reviewed the BCOAPO PACA application with regard to the criteria and rates set out in the PACA Guidelines in Commission Order G-72-07.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 118(1) of the Utilities Commission Act, the Commission orders as follows:
1. The Commission awards funds in the requested amount of $4,886.00 to the British Columbia Pensioners and Seniors’ Organization with respect to its participation in the review of the 2012 Resource Plan for Pacific Northern Gas (N.E.) Ltd. [PNG(N.E.)] Pipeline System.
2. PNG(N.E.) is directed to reimburse the above participant for the award amount in a timely manner.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 1st day of May 2013.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
D.A. Cote
Panel Chair/Commissioner